Here are the 10 best performances by players on team Top 30 Prospects lists from across the Minor Leagues on Thursday:
Greg Deichmann, OF Athletics No. 17
Deichmann’s multihomer game proved the difference as Double-A Midland defeated Amarillo, 4-1, to improve to 2-0 in the best-of-five Texas League semifinals. The 24-year-old outfielder hit a solo shot in the second inning to pad the RockHounds’ early lead and then did the same thing again in the sixth via a two-run homer. Deichmann, the A’s second-round pick from the 2017 Draft, also collected two hits in the series opener after finishing the regular season on a four-game hitting streak, during which he homered in back-to-back games. Athletics prospect stats »
Ethan Hankins, RHP, Indians No. 8
Hankins' bright future was on full display as the Indians’ No. 8 prospect racked up eight strikeouts in 3 1/3 scoreless innings to pace Class A Lake County in a 4-0 win over Great Lakes in Game 2 of the Midwest League quarterfinals. The 19-year-old right-hander mixed three hits with three walks in the outing, with 52 of 83 pitches going for strikes. The Captains and Loons will play a decisive Game 3 on Friday, with the winner advancing. Indians prospect stats »
David Parkinson, LHP Phillies No. 18
Parkinson saved one of his best outings of the season for the Double-A Eastern League division series on Thursday, but it still wasn’t enough as Reading fell, 3-0, to Trenton in 10 innings, putting the Fightin' Phils down 2-0 in the best-of-five series. The Phillies’ No. 18 prospect pitched seven shutout innings with just three hits and a walk allowed and five strikeouts. Over 22 starts at the Double-A level in 2019, the lefty posted a 4.08 ERA with 118 strikeouts over 119 innings. Reading’s road doesn’t get any easier from here, as the series returns to Trenton for the remaining games. Angels prospect stats »
Trent Deveaux, OF, Angels No. 11
Deveaux launched his seventh home run of the season on Thursday, his first since being promoted to the Pioneer League from the Arizona League in late August. The Orem outfielder hit .247 with a .769 OPS over 52 games for the Arizona League Angels before he was promoted. The Angels’ No. 11 prospect is still raw at the plate as a 19-year-old, but his 80-grade speed should really shine if he can reach base more as he develops. In 2019, Deveaux stole 15 bases in 21 attempts. Angels prospect stats »
Peyton Burdick, OF, Marlins No. 29; Kameron Misner, OF (No. 10); Will Banfield, C (No. 20)
Burdick, Misner and Banfield all collected three hits from the Nos. 3-5 spots in the order, and Burdick and Misner both scored three runs. Banfield also racked up four RBIs, thanks to a pair of run-scoring doubles, and Burdick drew a walk to reach base four times in the contest. That sparked an offensive eruption for Class A Clinton, which scored 10 runs, providing more than enough support for a pitching staff that carried a combined no-hit bid into the eighth inning. The 10-1 victory allowed the LumberKings to advance to the Midwest League semifinals. Marlins prospect stats »
Thad Ward, RHP, Red Sox No. 8
Ward’s quality start for Class A Advanced Salem helped the Red Sox edge Wilmington, 5-2, and improve to 2-0 in the best-of-five Carolina League semifinals. The Red Sox No. 8 prospect was stingy, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven, but he also issued four walks and threw just 49 of 90 pitches for strikes. The 22-year-old righty had a breakout regular-season campaign, posting a 2.14 ERA with 157 strikeouts and a .198 BAA in 126 1/3 innings (25 starts) across two levels. Red Sox prospect stats »
Alex Kirilloff, OF, Twins No. 2
Kirilloff launched a solo home run in the ninth inning, but that was the entire offense for Pensacola, which fell, 4-1, to Biloxi and is now down 2-0 in the Double-A Southern League semifinals. Kirilloff also homered in Game 1 of the series on Wednesday. The Twins’ No. 2 prospect and Major League Baseball’s No. 15 overall prospect hit .283 with nine home runs and a .756 OPS over 94 games this season in Double-A. Pensacola has a chance to keep the best-of-five semifinals alive at home on Friday before the series is scheduled to return to Biloxi for the fourth and fifth games. Twins prospect stats »
Nick Pratto, 1B, Royals No. 10
Pratto, the Royals’ first-round pick from the 2017 Draft, attempted to fuel a late Class A Advanced Wilmington comeback with his two-run homer in the seventh inning, though it ultimately accounted for all of the Blue Rocks’ scoring as they fell to Salem for a second straight night in the best-of-five Carolina League semifinals. The 20-year-old first baseman had an impressive full-season debut in 2018 (.280/.343/.443, 14 HR), but saw his production regress this season at Wilmington as he batted just .191/.278/.310 with nine homers. Royals prospect stats »